An African Safari: A Bucket-List Guide
An African safari is the ultimate bucket-list trip, and one I love to plan through the expedition and lodge specialists I trust. Nothing prepares you for your first lion, elephant herd, or sunrise over the savanna. Here is how to think about it.
Where to go
- Kenya & Tanzania, the classic, the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti, home of the Great Migration and its river crossings.
- South Africa, the easiest first safari, Kruger and private reserves, often malaria-free, and pairs with Cape Town and the winelands.
- Botswana, the connoisseur’s choice, the water-and-wildlife wilderness of the Okavango Delta, at a premium.
- Rwanda & Uganda, for once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking.
When to go
The dry season is best for game viewing, when animals gather at water. Timing the Great Migration (roughly the river crossings mid-year) takes real planning, which is exactly where an advisor earns their keep.
Where you stay is the trip
On safari, the lodge or tented camp is the experience, from classic tented camps to ultra-luxury suites with private plunge pools. Some camps have age minimums, so family safaris need the right property.
Why plan a safari with me
Safaris live and die on the camp, the region, the season, and the guides, and the best ones book a year ahead. I arrange it end to end through my trusted partners on the ground. It is a spectacular honeymoon or milestone trip; see also how to choose between an expedition and a land trip. Because it is a long-haul flight, it is worth reading whether business class is worth it for the journey.